Walter Herbert (conductor) facts for kids
Walter Herbert (born Seligmann; February 18, 1898 – September 14, 1975) was an American conductor and impresario (someone who organizes concerts and operas). He was born in Germany and was also a world champion at the card game contract bridge.
His Life in Opera
Walter Seligmann was born in Frankfurt, Germany. He studied music composition (how to create music) with Arnold Schönberg in Vienna, Austria. He learned a lot about conducting in Germany and Switzerland. Later, he became the main conductor at the Vienna Volksoper, a famous opera house, from 1931 to 1938. His first time conducting an opera was Carmen in 1925 in Bern, Switzerland.
Before a big political change in Germany and Austria in 1938, Herbert traveled to Japan. There, he helped introduce modern Western classical music. From Japan, he moved to the United States and became an American citizen in 1944.
Herbert led several important opera companies in the United States:
- He was the director of Opera in English in San Francisco from 1940 to 1943.
- In 1943, he became the first general director (the main leader) of the New Orleans Opera Association, a role he held until 1954.
- He started the Houston Grand Opera in 1955. He was its general director and conductor until 1972.
- He was also the music director for Opera/South in Jackson, Mississippi.
- In 1965, he founded the San Diego Opera. He was its general director and conductor from 1969 until he passed away.
Walter Herbert worked with many famous singers of his time. He even helped many of them begin their careers in opera. For example, in April 1948, a young singer named Mario Lanza performed in the opera Madama Butterfly in New Orleans, with Herbert conducting.
A Champion Bridge Player
Besides his music career, Walter Herbert was also a very skilled contract bridge player. In the 1930s, he was part of the Austrian national team. This team, led by Paul Stern, won four out of the first six European team championships. Herbert played in the 1933 and 1937 championships.
The 1937 tournament was special because it included two teams from the United States. This made it the first-ever world championship for bridge teams!
Walter Herbert also helped create a special strategy in bridge called the Herbert Negative. It's a way for players to show a negative response during the game by making the cheapest possible move.
Music Recordings
Walter Herbert conducted several live opera recordings. These recordings let us still hear his work today.
- Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (recorded 1950)
- Verdi: Rigoletto (recorded 1952)
- Verdi: La forza del destino (recorded 1953)
- Ponchielli: La Gioconda: parts of the opera (recorded 1953)
